June 29, 2003

“Never Say Never To God”

TEXT:  John 13: 1-17 (verse 8)

THESIS:  Jesus knows who will follow the high calling of servanthood.

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I.  Jesus foreknew that His time had come to leave.  (vs 1-3)

A.      Jesus could predict the future because He could see it.

1.      Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection.

“The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
be crucified and on the third day be raised again.  Then they remembered His words. 
Luke 24: 7-8

B.      God foreknew our coming to know His Son.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”  Romans 8: 28-29

C.     God foreknew those who rejected His Son.

1.      Jesus knew Judas would accept the plan of Satan  (vs 2)

II.  Jesus demonstrates the beauty of servanthood.  (vss 4-5)

A.      God is the “Prime Mover.”

1.      Servanthood was God’s method of reconciliation.

“You see, at just the right time (foreknowledge) when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5: 6-8

B.      God took the initiative to restore relationships.

C.      Jesus is reconciling the world to God  (see Colossians 1: 15-23)

III.  Jesus raises the bar to servanthood.  (vs 6-17)

A.      Jesus washes their feet.

B.      Peter tries to tell Jesus “no.”

C.     Jesus gives an example of servanthood for us to follow.

(vss 12-17)

D.     We can be a part of the reconciliation process if we are willing to serve.